Some patients with depression have decreased levels of the blood molecule acetyl-L-carnitine, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Screening blood for acetyl-L-carnitine could help improve the process of diagnosing major depressive disorder. The discovery could also lead to better treatment options for patients with major depressive disorder.
Depression is a common mood disorder, and it is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
“It’s the number one reason for absenteeism at work,” says Natalie Rasgon, a doctor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, in an interview with the Stanford Medicine News Center.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a blood molecule that the body produces naturally. It is involved in regulating energy and it influences the gene that controls glutamate, which is a chemical that is involved in brain function.
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